Continuing the development process of its future Major League Soccer (MLS) home, Minnesota United FC announced Populous as the lead architect for the new soccer stadium at the Snelling and I-94 site, generally known as the ‘Midway’. Populous has worked on many of the top sports facilities – from training venues to Olympic stadiums – throughout the world.

Nick Rogers, President of Minnesota United FC, said:

We are very pleased to formalise our relationship with Populous, a global leader in stadium design. We have been having conversations with Bruce Miller and his team over the past two years, and have every confidence that they are the right group to help us realise our vision of a world-class soccer stadium in the Twin Cities.

The Kansas City-based sports architecture firm – recognised for its focus on environmentally-sustainable projects – is a world leader in stadium design and event-based projects. Populous has created world-class soccer stadiums for top-tier clubs throughout the world, including Sporting KC (USA), Olympique Lyonnais (France), Tottenham Hotspur (UK), Arsenal (UK), C.F. Monterrey (Mexico), and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final Stadium in Johannesburg.

Populous was the lead architect on local several local stadium projects – including Target Field and TCF Bank Stadium – which have received national recognition for enhancing sporting events by creating environments that draw people and communities together. Some of their other impressive projects include Wimbledon’s Main Stadium, the stadiums for the 2000 Sydney and 2012 London Olympic Games, the new Yankee Stadium in New York City, as well as renovation projects for Texas A&M’s Kyle Field, Camden Yards in Baltimore and Wembley Stadium in London.

Bruce Miller, Senior Principal at Populous and lead architect for Minnesota United’s new stadium, said:

It’s an honour to have the opportunity to design another memorable sports experience for the Twin Cities. Major League Soccer has found a great home in St. Paul and our design team is excited about the opportunities to create a mixed-use entertainment destination that will thrive year-round. The site’s central location, access to public transit and exposure on I-94 make it a model site for a Major League Soccer venue. As a building block in growing the Minnesota United brand, the stadium will become the heart and soul of soccer in the northern Midwest.

In addition to the state-of-the-art completed projects, Populous is currently in the process of designing the new stadium for Orlando City SC (MLS).

Minnesota United was awarded an MLS franchise earlier this year in a highly competitive process that put Minneapolis – St. Paul ahead of other major markets in the United States. The club later announced its commitment to building a new, privately-financed soccer stadium at the Snelling-Midway site in St. Paul. The Stadium is scheduled to be completed in early 2018.

Team owner William McGuire and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman have confirmed that the MLS team and city will work together – along with key partners at the state and local level including a community advisory committee – to build a nearly 20,000-capacity soccer stadium at the Snelling-Midway site in Saint Paul.

McGuire said:

By all measures important to soccer fans throughout the Twin Cities metro and the state, as well as the needs of the team and Major League Soccer, this is a great location for an iconic soccer facility that will house the MLS franchise in Minnesota.

Located between two great downtowns, situated along multiple transit options and the interstate, and in the heart of a dynamic community, this site provides us the opportunity to work in partnership with the city of Saint Paul and the local community to establish top-tier professional soccer that will be readily accessible to everyone.

Today we are one step closer toward the debut of Major League Soccer in Minnesota. We believe the Midway location will be a tremendous home for Minnesota’s new MLS club based on the site’s central location, close proximity to a diverse millennial population, and easy access to multiple modes of public transportation.

Mayor Coleman added:

Today is a great day for Saint Paul, for soccer and for the entire state. I am thrilled that the team wants to work with the community to build a stadium here in Saint Paul. A soccer stadium will provide an important catalyst for the redevelopment of the entire area – creating jobs, spurring housing and new commercial opportunities, and building on our commitment to transit oriented development. With an agreed framework for the construction of this stadium, we are confident that working with the community, our local and state partners and with one another, we can complete the process necessary to bring MLS to Minnesota.

McGuire and Coleman outlined a set of principles that will underpin stadium planning. The team reiterated that it will privately finance the estimated $120-million stadium, and that it will be publicly owned once construction is complete. The Saint Paul City Council and Ramsey County have also passed resolutions supporting a continuation of tax exempt status for the site, a measure that will need to be approved by the state legislature. Importantly, the parties agreed that facilitating redevelopment of the local area to create an even more vibrant community is a prerequisite for moving forward.

Saint Paul City Council is seeking applicants for a community advisory committee to guide the work of city staff and consultants as the project moves forward. The 15- to 20-person committee will be tasked with representing the broader interests of the community and providing input on the overall design and development decisions that will emerge. The local community will also be engaged through community open houses, Open Saint Paul (online engagement tool) and public hearings at both the Planning Commission and City Council.

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